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proper time

British

noun

time measured by a clock that has the same motion as the observer. Any clock in motion relative to the observer, or in a different gravitational field, will not, according to the theory of relativity, measure proper time

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Later, he adopted a habit of submitting the master tape of an episode so late there wasn’t proper time to review it.

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2025

"We're hopeful that we have the proper time... to begin phase two, and finish it off and get more hostages released," he told CNN on Sunday.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2025

“Despite not having proper time, resources and staffing when things got tough I just did my best to handle it,” Ms. Gutierrez-Reed said in court, reading from a statement, her wrists shackled.

From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2024

“We want this campaign behind us so the city can take its proper time to implement it,”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2023

“Why do you think this is the proper time for an uprising in these parts?”

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023